Her exit leaves open the swingiest seat in the country.

Just nine months after beating former Rep. Frank Guinta (R) in their fourth consecutive rematch, Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D) announced Friday she would retire, opening up the swingiest seat in the country. In a statement, she cited a desire to spend more time with family. Former New Hampshire AFL-CIO President Mark MacKenzie (D) and Executive Councilor Chris Pappas (D) have both said they will explore bids for the seat, which backed President Trump by 2 points.

“MacKenzie said he will meet with friends and longtime associates in the next week to 10 days. If he runs, MacKenzie would likely receive strong organized labor support.” (release/WMUR)

“Pappas has long been viewed as the likely top contender. … He considered running in the 2016 election, but decided well in advance to support Shea-Porter, rather than challenge her. But with Shea-Porter now deciding to step aside, Pappas is already widely viewed as the early Democratic front-runner for the seat if there is a party primary next year.” (WMUR)

Sources also said Iraq War veteran Maura Sullivan is strongly considering a run, but as “recently as May, prior to relocating to New Hampshire, Sullivan was” floated as a contender to challenge Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL 06). First-term state Rep. Mindi Messmer (D) “said Monday she is ‘mulling it over,’ while six-term” state Rep. Robert Cushing (D) “said he will ‘think about it.’” (WMUR)

Also being mentioned as possible Democratic candidates are former New Hampshire House Speaker Terie Norelli, state Sen. Donna Soucy and former Portsmouth City Councilor Stefany Shaheen,” state Sen. David Watters and state Rep. Marjorie Smith. (WMUR)

“The announcement surprised even her congressional staff members, who did not learn of Shea-Porter’s decision until she told them Friday morning, just a few hours before her announcement was issued. Her decision was said to be still up in the air as recently as 10 days ago.” (WMUR)

State Sen. Andy Sanborn (R) and former South Hampton Police Chief Eddie Edwards (R) are already running in the district, which the NRCC called “a pick-up opportunity even before” the announcement. Meanwhile, the DCCC vowed to compete “against whomever Steve Bannon nominates.” (releases)

"President Trump is preparing to sign an executive order that would increase the amount of information colleges divulge to prospective students, while adding pressure on schools not to discriminate against unpopular political views. The order will be signed Thursday afternoon and follows Trump's pledge in a speech this month to sign an executive order on university free speech after incidents, including an alleged assault, targeting conservative students. The executive order will require that, in order to receive federal grants, schools confirm to 12 federal agencies they are abiding by the First Amendment."

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NO INDICTMENTS SINCE JANUARY

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"Mueller’s team, once filled with 17 lawyers, will soon be down to 10. The special counsel’s office confirmed in recent days that Zainab Ahmad’s detail has ended, and Andrew Weissmann will soon be leaving for the private sector. No one has been charged by the special counsel since longtime Trump adviser Roger Stone was indicted in January for allegedly lying to Congress."

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HE PLANNED TO LEAVE MID-MARCH

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MANAFORT STEERED HIM WORK IN UKRAINE

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A long-running federal investigation into former Obama White House counsel Gregory Craig "is reaching a critical stage, presenting the Justice Department with a decision about whether to charge a prominent Democrat as part of a more aggressive crackdown on illegal foreign lobbying." Federal prosecutors in New York have transferred the case to Washington. ... The investigation centers on whether Mr. Craig should have disclosed work he did in 2012 — while he was a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom — on behalf of the Russia-aligned government of Viktor F. Yanukovych, then the president of Ukraine. The work was steered to Mr. Craig by Paul Manafort."

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AUTHORIZED TO UNLOCK PHONES

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"Federal authorities raided the office of Republican fundraiser Elliott Broidy last summer, seeking records related to his dealings with foreign officials and Trump administration associates, according to a sealed search warrant obtained by ProPublica. Agents were authorized to use the megadonor’s hands and face to unlock any phones that required fingerprint or facial scans."